Securement of covering about vehicle contoured sunvisor

ABSTRACT

Means for securing the cover wrapping of a sunvisor to the concavely curved side of the contoured sunvisor body through bonding covering material to a structural support wire of the visor located within the deepest concave region of the body of the visor.

United States Patent 1 1 m1 3,751,106- 1 51 Aug. 7, 1973 Mahler et al.

[ SECUREMENT OF COVERING ABOUT [56] References Cited VEHICLE CONTOUREDSUNVISOR UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventors: Gert Mahler,Radevormwald; 3,632,164 1/1972 Radke 297/D1G. 1 Gerhard Zwirner,Dusseldorf, b th 2,703,603 3/1955 Endicott 297/DIG. 1 f Germany2,901,028 8/1959 Bottemil1er.... 297 010. 1 3,103,082 9/1963 Baermann297/D1G. 1 [73] Ass1gnee: Gebr Hoppich GmbH, 3,266,066 8/1966 Bereday297/452 X Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany 3,425,469 2/1969 Ausnit 24/201 C[221 Filed July 28 1971 3,429,610 2/1969 Bornefeld 296/97 R 9 [21] App].No.: 166,681 Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh v Assistant Examiner.lohnA. Pekar [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Attorneyflsldney G.Faber ct Nov. 7, 1970 Germany P 20 54 953.5 57 ABSTRACT [52] U 5 Cl296/97 H 24/201 C 160/385 Means for securing the cover wrapping ofasunvisor to [51] 2 3/00 the concavely' curved side of the contouredsunvisor [58] Fieid R body through bonding covering material to astructural 160/382 gg3' 5 support wire of the visor located within thedeepest C concave region of the body of the visor.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SECUREMENT F COVERING ABOUT VEHICLECONTOURED SUNVISOR This invention relates to sunvisors for motorvehicles, and the like, which visors are generally flattened and may bebent or curved to conform to the countour of the adjacent portion of thevehicle interior. Such a visor is curved and has a concave side, whichnormally faces toward the interior of the vehicle. At least onecurvature is about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction ofextension of the visor, i.e., the width of the window above which thevisor is normally positioned. In an alternate arrangement, the curvedshape of the visor is advantageously combined with the interior of areinforced, arched vehicle roof. In a further variation, the concaveside of the visor faces away from the vehicle interior.

Visors of this type type previously could not be made with the samelevel of technical and optical effectiveness and their exteriorcoverings could not remain as smooth over as prolonged a period of' timeas can be obtained with visors that are essentially flat or onlyslightly curved. The difficulty arises in providing a uniformly smoothand enduring curved covering for the visor padding over the concavelycurved side of the visor. This has been accomplished by cementing thefoil like covering over the shaped padding base of the visor. However,under usual manipulation of the visor and the frequently widetemperature variations to which a visor is exposed over an extendedperiod of time, the foil covering loosens, at least in the deepestconcave region of the visor. The foil covering then no longer presents asmoothly contoured appearance and may even shift off the visor paddingbase beneath. Attempts to weld the visor covering to the padding basehave likewise failed because the padding body is not formed of aweldable material and the visor to padding welded joint lacks sufficientstrength to hold the covering in place at the deepest concave region ofthe visor over the useful life of the visor.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a vehicle sunvisor,which overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages and which is simplyand inexpensively produced.

In accordance with the invention, a part of the wire frame support forthe padding base of the visor is located within the deepest, concavelycurved region of the visorfand the foil like visor covering is joined tothis part of the visor wire frame. By attaching the covering to thisportion of the wire frame with known means, a covering to wire framejunction is obtained, which should withstand all normal operating andambient conditions.

The padding base of the visor so covers the interior support wire framethat the portion of the wire frame at the concave region of the visor isnormally inaccessible for attachment to the visor covering. Anappropriate opening or slit is made in a side wall of padding to provideaccess to the wire. In certain embodiments of the invention, the portionof the wire frame at the deep region of the concave side is spaced awayfrom the padding material to facilitate joining thereto of the visorcovering. This is particularly advantageous when the junction betweenframe and covering is made with cement.

Joining of frame and covering may be accomplished by wrapping theexposed region of the wire frame with weldable material, which is joinedto or is made part of the visor covering. Alternatively, if the wire andcovering are made from appropriate materials, the covering may be joineddirectly to the wire frame by a welding operation.

In a preferred arrangement, a short length weldable foil strip iswrapped about the wire and its free ends are joined to each other and tothe visor covering. With such an arrangement, all regions of the wireframe are guarded against undesirable contact and viewing. The openingin the visor body for wire 6a could be profiled to receive that wire andthe elements, if any, which help join the wire and covering.

In a further variation, a separate clamp like joining element may beclamped on the frame wire at the deepest concave region of the visor andthe foil like covering may be joined to this.

The present invention is further illustrated in a number of embodimentsin the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the concave side of a sunvisor inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view along the line and in the direction ofarrows AA of the visor of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-6 provide fragmentary cross-sectional views of variousmodifications of a visor viewed similarly along a line equivalent to AAof the visor of FIG. 1.

Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, sun visor I is supported inside a vehicle body(not shown) by bearing 2. The visor includes two padding layers 3, 4,formed of a thick, perhaps porous fabric, foamed plastic, foamed rubber,or the like. Layers 3, 4 are completely covered by a wrapped about thinfoil like covering 5 of appropriate surface material, e.g., a fabric,vinyl plastic, real or simulated leather, or the like. In accordancewith the preferred embodiment, the material of covering 5 is weldable,e.g., by heat sealing, vinyl plastic. Covering 5 is formed from asinglesheet material element which is wrapped about the padding layersand is welded to itself along edge seam 5a. Wire frame 6 is held betweenpadding layers 3, 4. Central horizontal wire 6a of wire frame 6cooperates in securing covering 5 on the visor, as described below.

Makeup mirror 7 is secured on the downwardly depending portion of theconcave side of visor 1. The details of the mirror and of its settingand the rearward stiff wiring therefor are not further discussed.

As shown in FIG. 2, visor 1 has a curvature about an axis b--b in FIG.1, which axis is parallel to the longitudinal direction of extension ofthe visor and to the front of the vehicle if, as is usual, the visor ispositioned over the front window of the vehicle. The lower corner regionof visor l at its side near the outside of the vehicle (left in FIG. I)further includes a curvature about axis cc of FIG. I. This curvaturecrosses the curvature about axis b-b. These curvatures cause visor l toconform to the vehicle interior contour. The intersecting curvatures ofvisor 1 do not interfere with interior frame 6 as this frame either doesnot extend into the corner region defined by the curvature axis cc orframe 6 is appropriately curved to conform.

Frame central wire 6a extends across visor I in the region of thedeepest portion of the curvature about axis b]--b. Central wire 6a offrame 6 is utilized for holding covering 5 to the visor padding in thedeepest region of the curvature of the concave side of the visor.

In FIG. 2, a single short length, but elongated width foil strip 8 ofweldable or fusable material, such as a fusable metallic or vinyl fabricor an adhesive coated fabric, passes around central frame wire 6a. Thefree end flaps or extensions of foil strip 8 pass through elongatednarrow slit opening 9. Opening 9 is at the concave side of and away fromthe peripheral edges of padding layer 4. Opening 9 and wire 6a aregenerally aligned and adjacent to each other. Strip 8 is of about thewidth of opening 9. The strip end flaps extend downward inside coveringtoward mirror 7. Then the contacting free ends of strip 8 and theadjacent portion of the covering 5 are all welded or fused to each otherat junction 10, by means operating externally to the visor, e.g., apressure applicator if the bonding material is cement, or a heatapplicator if the weldable elements are of vinyl plastic. This providescomplete and safe anchoring of foil strip to wrapping 5 at the deepestconcave region of visor 1, without any externally visible fasteningmeans being required. An enduring, attractive, safe, smoothly surfacedand concavely shaped sunvisor results.

FIGS. 3-6 show portions of further examples of visors made in accordancewith the invention at the region of frame central wire 6a. Theillustrated visors are not shown as being curved. However, the presentinvention is particularly useful in connection with curved visors.

In FIG. 3, wire 6a is positioned in cavity 11 in padding layer 4. Accessinto cavity 11 is through an opening like 9. Strip 8 is in cavity 11 andpasses over central wire 6a. The strip end flaps overlap each otherwithin exterior covering 5 and contact the covering. The threesuperimposed foil layers are joined to each other at junction 10 byappropriate cementing, welding, fusing or the like.

In FIG. 4, central wire 6a in groove 11 is likewise surrounded by foilstrip 8 of appropriate fusable material. The two free ends of strip 8extend into groove 11, toward padding layer 3, past central wire 60 andare joined to each other by appropriate fusing. Fused junction 10 joinsfoil strip 8 with the adjacent portion of covering 5 outward of wire 6a.

In FIG. 5, central wire 6a is not surrounded by a foil strip. Instead,wire 60 is embraced by a longitudinally extending clamping strip 12which is appropriately profiled to fit within groove 11 in padding layer4. Clamping strip 12 is formed of a resilient material so as to embracecentral wire 6a. It is also formed of or coated with an appropriatefusable material so as to be able to be joined to covering 5 by fusionalong junction line 10. Strip 12 may be formed of a tube of appropriatefusable material which has a longitudinal slit, shown on its left inFIG. 5, which permits wire 6a to be snapped into the receiving openingof strip 12 and which permits the clamping strip to apply a clampingforce on wire 6a. Strip 12 might also be closed, in which event wire 6awould be inserted through one of the open ends of the tubing of strip12.

In all of the above described examples, junction 10 is formed only witha single fusion joint. In FIG. 6, on the other hand, strip 8 of fusablematerial is disposed within exterior foil covering 5, passes over theinterior side of wire 6a, within groove 11 and is fused along tworespective longitudinal fusion joints 10 above and below wire 6a tocovering 5.

There has just been described several embodiments of a novel, smoothsurfaced vehicle sunvisor. The invention is particularly useful forcurved or contoured visors for holding the covering of the visorsecurely in place.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withpreferred embodiments thereof, many variations and modifications willnow become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred,therefore, that the present invention be limited, not by the specificdisclosure therein, but only by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a vehicle visor, comprising a relatively flattened body, asupporting frame within said body, and a covering wrapped about saidbody; said body having two large opposite side surfaces joined at thinperipheral edges around said body;

the improvement comprising,

said body including an access opening providing access from the exteriorof said visor to a portion of .said frame that is positioned adjacent tosaid opening; said access opening being in one of said side surfaces andaway from said visor edges; said access opening being an elongated slitand said frame portion being correspondingly elongated and generallyaligned with said slit, whereby said covering is anchored along asubstantial distance;

said covering being secured to said frame portion through said accessopening.

2. In the vehicle visor of claim 1, wherein said covering is formed fromat least one strip wrapped about said body;

the improvement further comprising,

means secured to said frame portion for joining said frame portion tosaid covering.

3. In a vehicle visor, comprising a relatively flattened body, asupporting frame within said body, and a cover ing wrapped about saidbody, said body having two large opposite side surfaces joined at thinperipheral edges around said body;

said visor being curved about an axis such that one of said sidesurfaces is concave; said concave surface having a region of deepestconcavity;

the improvement comprising,

said body including an access opening providing access from the exteriorof said visot to a portion of said frame that is positioned adjacent tosaid opening; said access opening being in one of said side surfaces andaway from said visor edges;

said covering being secured to said frame portion through said accessopening;

said access opening and said adjacent frame portion being at saiddeepest concave region.

4. In the vehicle visor of claim 3, the improvement further comprising,

said access opening being an elongated slit which is substantiallyaligned with said visor curvature axis, and said frame portion beingcorrespondingly elongated and generally aligned with said slit, wherebysaid covering is anchored along a substantial distance.

5. In the vehicle visor of claim 4, wherein said covering is formed fromat least one strip wrapped about said body;

the improvement further comprising,

means secured to said frame portion for joining said frame portion tosaid covering.

6. In the vehicle visor of claim 5, wherein said frame is comprised ofwires;

the improvement further comprising, said frame portion being a wire.

7. In the vehicle visor of claim 5, the improvement further comprising,

said means secured to said frame portion comprising a strip passingaround said frame portion and having free ends which are secured to saidcovering.

8. In the vehicle visor of claim 7, the improvement further comprising,said strip free ends being positioned for and being secured to eachother.

9. In the vehicle visor of claim 8, wherein said covering and said stripfree ends are comprised of materials permitting fusion together thereof.

10. In the vehicle visor of claim 5, the improvement further comprising,said means secured to said frame portion comprising a strip passingaround said frame portion and having free ends extending past said frameportion and further into said access opening; said free ends beingsecured to each other on the side of said frame portion which is awayfrom said access opening; said securing means strip being secured tosaid covering on the side of said frame portion facing toward saidaccess opening.

11. In the vehicle visor of claim 5, the improvement further comprising,said access opening being defined by a wall with a predeterminedcontour; said means for joining said frame portion to said coveringhaving an exterior contour which is complementary to the said interiorcontour of said slit.

12. In the vehicle visor of claim 11, the improvement furthercomprising, said means for joining comprising a clamping deviceincluding arms which resiliently grasp said frame portion, therebyholding said means for joining stationary.

1. In a vehicle visor, comprising a relatively flAttened body, asupporting frame within said body, and a covering wrapped about saidbody; said body having two large opposite side surfaces joined at thinperipheral edges around said body; the improvement comprising, said bodyincluding an access opening providing access from the exterior of saidvisor to a portion of said frame that is positioned adjacent to saidopening; said access opening being in one of said side surfaces and awayfrom said visor edges; said access opening being an elongated slit andsaid frame portion being correspondingly elongated and generally alignedwith said slit, whereby said covering is anchored along a substantialdistance; said covering being secured to said frame portion through saidaccess opening.
 2. In the vehicle visor of claim 1, wherein saidcovering is formed from at least one strip wrapped about said body; theimprovement further comprising, means secured to said frame portion forjoining said frame portion to said covering.
 3. In a vehicle visor,comprising a relatively flattened body, a supporting frame within saidbody, and a covering wrapped about said body, said body having two largeopposite side surfaces joined at thin peripheral edges around said body;said visor being curved about an axis such that one of said sidesurfaces is concave; said concave surface having a region of deepestconcavity; the improvement comprising, said body including an accessopening providing access from the exterior of said visot to a portion ofsaid frame that is positioned adjacent to said opening; said accessopening being in one of said side surfaces and away from said visoredges; said covering being secured to said frame portion through saidaccess opening; said access opening and said adjacent frame portionbeing at said deepest concave region.
 4. In the vehicle visor of claim3, the improvement further comprising, said access opening being anelongated slit which is substantially aligned with said visor curvatureaxis, and said frame portion being correspondingly elongated andgenerally aligned with said slit, whereby said covering is anchoredalong a substantial distance.
 5. In the vehicle visor of claim 4,wherein said covering is formed from at least one strip wrapped aboutsaid body; the improvement further comprising, means secured to saidframe portion for joining said frame portion to said covering.
 6. In thevehicle visor of claim 5, wherein said frame is comprised of wires; theimprovement further comprising, said frame portion being a wire.
 7. Inthe vehicle visor of claim 5, the improvement further comprising, saidmeans secured to said frame portion comprising a strip passing aroundsaid frame portion and having free ends which are secured to saidcovering.
 8. In the vehicle visor of claim 7, the improvement furthercomprising, said strip free ends being positioned for and being securedto each other.
 9. In the vehicle visor of claim 8, wherein said coveringand said strip free ends are comprised of materials permitting fusiontogether thereof.
 10. In the vehicle visor of claim 5, the improvementfurther comprising, said means secured to said frame portion comprisinga strip passing around said frame portion and having free ends extendingpast said frame portion and further into said access opening; said freeends being secured to each other on the side of said frame portion whichis away from said access opening; said securing means strip beingsecured to said covering on the side of said frame portion facing towardsaid access opening.
 11. In the vehicle visor of claim 5, theimprovement further comprising, said access opening being defined by awall with a predetermined contour; said means for joining said frameportion to said covering having an exterior contour which iscomplementary to the said interior contour of said slit.
 12. In thevehicle visor of claim 11, the improvement further comprising, saidmeans for joining coMprising a clamping device including arms whichresiliently grasp said frame portion, thereby holding said means forjoining stationary.